How We Treat
SPACE Therapy
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a parent-based treatment program designed to help children and teens manage anxiety, OCD, and related challenges—without the child needing to attend therapy. Through SPACE, parents learn practical, research-backed strategies to reduce accommodations and respond more effectively to their child’s distress.
When parents change their responses, children gain confidence, independence, and emotional resilience.
What is SPACE?
SPACE is an evidence-based treatment designed to help children and adolescents manage anxiety and OCD—by working directly with their parents. Rather than focusing on the child in traditional therapy sessions, SPACE empowers caregivers to shift their own responses to anxious behaviors, creating meaningful change at home.
Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University, SPACE recognizes that when a child is anxious, parents often modify their routines or behaviors to help their child feel better. This is called accommodation—and while it comes from a place of love, it can unintentionally reinforce the anxiety. In SPACE therapy, parents learn how to reduce these accommodations in a supportive, structured way, promoting their child’s ability to cope independently.
The Two Core Pillars of SPACE Therapy
- Supportive Responses- Parents are guided in expressing empathy for their child’s distress without reinforcing avoidance. This includes validating emotions while confidently encouraging the child’s ability to face challenges.
- Reducing Accommodations- With the therapist’s help, parents learn to gradually stop making anxiety-based adjustments—like avoiding certain places or completing tasks for the child—in a way that feels safe and intentional.
What Does SPACE Therapy Look Like?
SPACE therapy typically includes:
- Education about childhood anxiety and the accommodation cycle
- Mapping how accommodations are currently showing up in daily life
- Creating a gradual plan to reduce those accommodations
- Practicing new supportive language that builds resilience
- Preparing for emotional pushback and challenges along the way
Most SPACE programs last around 12 to 16 sessions and can be delivered either in person or virtually.
Is SPACE Therapy Right for Your Family?
SPACE has been proven effective for a wide range of childhood anxiety disorders, including:
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Separation Anxiety
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Social Anxiety
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Generalized Anxiety
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Specific Phobias
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
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Selective Mutism
It’s also ideal for families where the child resists traditional therapy or has difficulty engaging directly in treatment.
Get Started Today
If your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, you don’t have to wait for them to be ready for therapy—you can begin making meaningful changes right now. SPACE Therapy offers parents a proven path to reduce anxiety-supporting behaviors and build confidence at home.
Ready to take the first step?
Reach out today to schedule your free consultation and learn how SPACE Therapy can support your family’s growth and healing.
FAQs
Who is SPACE for?
Parents or caregivers of children and adolescents (often ages ~6-17, though younger or older children may also benefit) who experience anxiety, OCD, or related fears and phobias.
Families where the child may be resisting therapy, has low motivation for traditional treatments, or where past interventions haven’t brought enough improvement.
When parents are very involved in accommodation behaviors (helping avoid or reduce child distress) that may inadvertently reinforce anxiety.
What kinds of anxiety or emotional issues does SPACE address?
Some of the problems SPACE has been used for include:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Separation anxiety
Social anxiety
Fears & phobias
Panic disorder / agoraphobia
Selective mutism
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
How does SPACE Therapy work? What do parents learn?
Parents in SPACE Therapy are taught two key types of change in their behavior:
Supportive responses to their child’s anxiety: This means responses that communicate acceptance of the child’s distress, confidence in the child’s coping abilities, and emotional support without jumping in to fix or avoid discomfort.
Reduction of accommodations: Recognizing when parents are accommodating their child’s anxiety (e.g. helping them avoid stressful situations, offering constant reassurance, enabling rituals) and gradually reducing those behaviors in a planned way.
The structure typically involves parent-only therapy sessions (child participation is optional), learning these skills, planning changes, handling pushback from children, and steadily shifting the family dynamics.
Do children attend the therapy sessions?
Usually no. The primary participants in the sessions are the parents or caregivers. Children do not need to attend, though sometimes optional child sessions are arranged if helpful.
What if my child resists the changes or is uncooperative?
It’s common for children to initially push back or resist when accommodations are reduced. SPACE includes guidance for parents on how to handle reactions, maintain consistency, set boundaries, and help the child adjust. Persistence and gradual change, with support, are part of the process.
What are the benefits of SPACE over traditional child-focused therapies?
For some children who are unwilling or unable to participate fully in therapy, SPACE still allows treatment impact through parent behavior.
It helps families break the cycle of accommodation which often maintains or worsens anxiety over time.
It can be more feasible in some settings or with limited resources.
Are there limitations or who might SPACE not be ideal for?
If parent(s) cannot engage or make consistent changes, SPACE may be less effective. Parental motivation and consistency are critical.
Severe cases with co-occurring disorders (e.g., severe depression, major behavior disorders, or significant trauma) might need additional or alternative treatments.
How do I know if SPACE is right for my family?
Consider asking:
Is my child’s anxiety or OCD significantly impacting daily life (school, relationships, home)?
Have we tried other approaches without full success?
Am I (as parent/caregiver) willing to learn new ways of responding and to reduce accommodations?
Are we able to commit to weekly (or near-weekly) sessions and work between sessions?
Talking with a licensed therapist who is trained in SPACE can help you decide.